Marilyn Ruth Zahnen

Marilyn was born June 16, 1937, to Oswald and Roselle Litzelman, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana along with her siblings Roseann, Evelyn, Helen, James (Jim) and Larry. She would often tell stories of growing up on the farm, taking care of the animals (pony, pig, dog, chickens, and goats), picking fruit (raspberry, gooseberry, cherry, plums, peaches, pears), or tending the flowers. She graduated from Saint Mary’s Academy in 1955 and spent two and a half years working at Indiana National Bank. In January 1958, she started college at Indiana University in Bloomington and graduated in 1961 with a degree in Business (one of only two women in her Business School graduating class). In summer of 1961, she started with the Social Security Administration and transferred to the Chicago office in August 1961.

A born adventurer, in Aug 1959 she and three of her friends borrowed her father’s 1956 green and white Chevy convertible and drove to the West Coast and back. In 1963, Marilyn and a friend spent 30 days in Europe where they visited Denmark, West Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland.

In Chicago, she met her husband, Gerry, and gained a life-long love of skiing and sailing. They made with frequent ski trips through the American Youth Hostel to Wisconsin, Michigan, and the Rockies as well as a European trips to Switzerland and Austria, and sailing / sail-racing on Lake Michigan. Marilyn and Gerry were married in June 1970, and had their first son, Kurt, in June 1971. On Oct 4, 1972, Marilyn, Gerry, and 15-month-old Kurt, left Chicago on their sailboat and went down the Mississippi River, around Florida and over to the Bahamas, returning to Fort Lauderdale in 1973. After 18 months of living on the boat, they finally returned to land, selling the boat and settling in Wilton Manors.

In 1976 she was blessed with her second child, Erik. During this time, she was an active PTA member, as well as serving as team mom for soccer, baseball, football, swimming, and band. The Zahnen household was blessed with many visitors from up north, especially around spring break time! She worked for a radiologist for 15 years before returning to the Social Security Administration until she retired in 2010. Upon retiring, Marilyn and Gerry explored the North and South America on cruises and bus tours, as well as successfully executing her duties as a doting grandmother to her five grandchildren.

Marilyn is survived by her son Kurt and his wife Lorrie, son Erik and his wife Sarah, grandchildren Kelly, Cameron Ruth, Brooke, Zachary and Zander, sisters Helen and Evelyn, brother Larry, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her husband Gerry, sister Roseann, and brother James.

An interment will be held at a later date: in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.